Utah Statewide Rule

Utah Requires Every Beekeeper to Register With the State

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across Utah (2026)

Key Facts

Statute: Utah Code Sec. 4-11-104
Agency: Utah Dept. of Agriculture and Food
Deadline to register: Within 30 days of getting bees
Renewal: Annually by December 31
Max penalty: $5,000 civil; class B misdemeanor

Last verified: July 31, 2026

Summary

Under Utah Code 4-11-104, you cannot keep bees in Utah without registering with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. File within 30 days of getting bees, list your colony count, and renew every year by December 31.

(1) A person may not raise bees in this state without being registered with the department. (2) Application for registration to raise bees shall be made to the department upon tangible or electronic forms prescribed and furnished by the department, within 30 days after the person: (a) takes possession of the bees; or (b) moves the bees into the state.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Section 4-11-104(1) is blunt: a person may not raise bees in Utah without being registered with the department, meaning the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. You must apply on the department's form within 30 days of taking possession of the bees or bringing them into the state, and the application must state your name, address, and the number of colonies that will sit in Utah for more than 30 days. The commissioner issues a registration valid through December 31, and you renew it annually by that date. Because this sits in Utah's Bee Inspection Act, registered colonies also fall under the state's bee-disease inspection program run through county bee inspectors.

Violations & Penalties

Violating the Agricultural Code, including the beekeeper registration rule, draws a civil penalty up to $5,000 per violation and a class B misdemeanor; a repeat within two years becomes a class A misdemeanor (Utah Code 4-2-304).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do backyard hobby beekeepers in Utah have to register?

Yes. Utah Code 4-11-104 applies to any person who raises bees, with no hobby exemption. Register with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food within 30 days of acquiring your bees.

How much does bee registration cost in Utah?

The statute sets the annual registration fee by department rule under Subsection 4-2-103(2) rather than fixing a dollar amount, so confirm the current fee with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

What happens if I keep bees in Utah without registering?

You face a civil penalty up to $5,000 per violation plus a class B misdemeanor under Utah Code 4-2-304. A second violation within two years is a class A misdemeanor.

Sources

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